life beyond the well…

Category Archives: Education


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Week Two: Complete

It’s crazy that I’ve completed two weeks at the job, but I have yet to teach a single class.  Yesterday marked the end of our in-service training, and on Monday, we’ll begin teaching classes.  Monday.  It’s coming so fast.

This week we went through a FranklinCovey training on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and it was AWESOME.  I’ve never read the book, but after the workshop, I’m definitely going to apply the principles to my life.  The book is also on my “Books to Buy/Read” list (which gets LONGER by the minute), and I would encourage you to check it out too.

So, my teaching career starts in about two days…and I think I’m feeling OKAY about it.  I might be fooling myself, because there’s SO. MUCH. TO. DO…but I definitely feel better than I felt before.  My middle school team is pretty cool, and one thing that I learned from the workshop is that teachers are the WORST students.  If you’ve ever been around a group of teachers, then you already know.  If there are any teachers reading this, just observe your faculty meetings.  I promise that you’ll see characteristics of your students that drive you crazy in your coworkers.  In a strange way it’s comforting, because you see that even with those characteristics that make you want to throw a textbook across the room, the person can still grow up and become a productive citizen that contributes to society.

Anyhow, I have a LOT more in my head, but I’ve got even more on my plate of things to do…so I’m going to tackle that.  Wish me luck!


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Week One: Complete

So, again, I SHOULD be doing lesson plans or reviewing benefit information.  But I’m not.  I’m writing and I’m watching the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics.  I now have the motivation necessary, but I just don’t feel up to it.

After completing my first ‘week’ at work (I started yesterday, so it was a really short week), I feel slightly more comfortable with what I’m going to be doing.  I met the other new teachers, and we all have different backgrounds and a different story.  Everyone seems nice and excited about the opportunities at the school, but I think we all feel SLIGHTLY overwhelmed because there is SO. MUCH. TO. DO. before school starts on the 18th.

Between feeling a little overwhelmed/nervous about work, I’ve also been feeling REALLY homesick/GA sick.  I think it would be really good to be around someone that I know.  I miss being able to go see people, or have dinner and happy hour with friends, or just being able to hang out.  It’s REALLY hard.  For any of my folk that read this- PLEASE come visit me soon.  Like, really.  It will make ALL the difference.  There’s part of me that wants to quit while I’m ahead, and go back to where everybody knows my name.  But there’s another part of me that wants to prove that I can make it here.  Let’s hope that part of me wins.

All in all, I’m still here.  As Antwone Fisher says, “I’m still standing…”.  I’m not sure how I feel about being strong- at least at this point.  At any rate, I have to do what I have to do.  God willing, I’ll do it well.

“I can’t think of any one reason on why I want to be a surgeon. But I can think of a thousand reasons why I should quit. They make it hard on purpose. There are lives in our hands. There comes a moment when … it’s more than just a game. And you either take that step forward. Or turn around and walk away. I could quit. But here’s the thing. I love the playing field.”  ~Grey’s Anatomy

“The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.” ~unknown